Sometimes you need to get into a computer without knowing the password. Perhaps you've forgotten yours, or perhaps you're up to no good. Either way, it's actually pretty easy to do, provided your victim hasn't taken the necessary precautions. Click one of the links below to find out how to do it on either a Windows PC»10/20/14 6:00pm 10/20/14 6:00pm

If you're trying to break into a Windows computer—whether you've forgotten your password or are hatching a more sinister plan—you have quite a few options. Here's how to do it, and how to keep your own computer protected.»10/29/13 4:30pm 10/29/13 4:30pm

Even if you aren't a sinister evildoer, there could be times when you need to get into a computer without the password. It's quite easy to do on a Mac, and learning how to do it can help you keep yourself better protected, too. Here's how it works.»10/29/13 4:30pm 10/29/13 4:30pm

LastPass noticed a possible security issue with one of their databases and is now requiring some users to change their master password. If you've been having issues with the service but haven't seen this notice yet, this may explain your problems. Also, oh really? You'd think a password vault would be a little more… »5/05/11 6:30am 5/05/11 6:30am

There are add-ons, VPNs, and apps galore that offer a safer browsing experience—but the browser you use, and the sites you visit, offer strong but simple security tools, too. Here are the best of the no-hassle, no-install-required options that you should be using now. »2/15/11 9:00am 2/15/11 9:00am

Most sites, when signing you up or verifying who you are after suspicious activity, ask you to answer a security question, or possibly read two out-of-focus words and type them into a box. Facebook is testing out a "social captcha", where pictures of friends of the user trying to log in are shown, and the would-be… »1/26/11 8:00am 1/26/11 8:00am

Hotmail has updated their security features to help further safeguard your account against phishing attacks and hijacking attempts with cellphone number verification and trusted computers. »9/28/10 6:30am 9/28/10 6:30am

Nobody plans to lose their gadgets, but anybody can make a few moves ahead of time to up their chances of getting their stuff back, whether with the help of good-natured finders or subtle tracking tools. Here are our favorite post-theft tools. »9/25/10 9:00am 9/25/10 9:00am

If you've ever forgotten your password or been asked to assist somebody else in resetting their password, there's a lot of different ways to accomplish it. Here's how to do it by hacking the Sticky Keys feature. »8/13/10 1:00pm 8/13/10 1:00pm

The fate of your house, car, and Action Comics collection after your death can be planned for in legal documents. Your Gmail and Facebook accounts? That's a bit murky. New legacy service Entrustet aims to help create legally sound post-mortem password vaults. »4/26/10 6:00am 4/26/10 6:00am

Digital Inspiration is an oft-linked blog here at Lifehacker, and its author is a very savvy digital worker. That said, Amit Agarwal learned a lot about safety precautions when both his Gmail and Google Apps accounts were hacked into. »12/18/09 7:00am 12/18/09 7:00am

The CyberNet News blog posts an interesting take on creating secure passwords you can actually remember, or at least remember how to retrieve—by posting a favorite web site, or an MP3 file, into an MD5 hash generator. »12/02/09 7:00am 12/02/09 7:00am

Windows: RoboForm, one of our readers' favorite password managers, is only officially available as an add-on for Firefox and Internet Explorer. Unless you grab a custom Chromium build with a RoboForm adapter built in, crafted by the RoboForm team itself. »9/30/09 8:05am 9/30/09 8:05am

A few security-conscious web sites allows users to write their own security questions, and web developers are occasionally asked to provide a few questions for their sites. Lifehacker reader James provides some perspective on what really makes a question secure. »9/24/09 7:00am 9/24/09 7:00am

Google just added an SMS option to its account recovery system, letting anyone who forgets their passwords, or finds it suspiciously locked, set up a mobile phone number to have a recovery password sent to. U.S.-only for now, but Google says it's working to expand the option. Want to add your phone number to an… »6/25/09 9:30am 6/25/09 9:30am

It's not all that exciting to think about, but what happens to your online bank account, email, Facebook account, blog, and the rest of your online presence when you cease to be? »4/07/09 8:45am 4/07/09 8:45am